St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-15
WHISKY'S DAY rs OVER.
Interesting Statistics Regarding the Con-
sumption of Intoxicants in the
United States.
The Demand for spirituous Liquors Giving
Way Before Decided Preference
for Beer.
Fourteen Million Drinkers Annually
Absorb $7OO.OOO,OOO Worth
of ''BooZe.''
Satisfactory Trial Trip of the Cruiser
Attanta--Texas Bank
Methods.

WASHINGTON, April 14.--Twenty or
more pages OF the quarterly report of the
chief OF the bureau of statistics (iust QUIT
are devoted to the consumption of dis
titled and malt liquors and wines,'' and es-
Inmates made by recognized authority are
given upon various features of this subject.
In round numbers the consumption of dis
titled spirits, domestic and imported, in this
country is shown to have increased from
43, 600. 600 gallons in 1910 to -, 900, 900 in
1886; of wines from 4, ZOO, 900 to 22, 900, 900
and OF malt liquors from %, 000, 900 to
642, 0OO, 600. The consumption per capita
during the same period decreased as regards
distilled spirits from about 215 gallons to
about l 4 gallons, and increased as regards
wines from 29100 to 3S-100 gallons, and
malt liquors from less than ~ to more than
II gallons. An elaborate statement made
by +. n. Barrett editor of the New York
Grocer, by request of the chief of the
bureau, is given, which sets forth. among
other things. that the present average eN-
penditure i'll this country per annuIn for
malt and spirituous liquor and beer at retail
is 500, 600, 600.
THE DRINKING POPULATION
is estimated to be lin 1866 14,925,417,
making the average expenditure per capita
ing the five years from 1882 to 1886 inclus.
i've, that the consumption of spirits is de-
creasng, while that of beer is increasing.
and that there is reduced use of wine.
During this PERIOD he says ''the con-
sumption OF coffee has risen from So
pounds per capita to Oil pounds. Do
not these facts show that the milder stimu-
lents are driving out their fiery competitor
and 1t Is not due to the growing agitation of
the temperance question" Mr.. Barrett
says the wholesale cost Of the liquor for
which the retailers received S70O, 900, OOG is
not more than $500, 600, 600. He makes a
brief calculation of the cost of liquors as
compared with that OF food clothing and
shelter, reaching the conclusion that the
American people eXpend from S12 to SIT
for the necessaries named to every dollar
paid out for liquor.
statement to the effect that only 10 per
cent. of the distilled spirits consumed in
this country are
USED FOR MEDICINE
and manufacturing purposes, 80 per cent.
being used as beverage. From a table
covering the years ending with 1885 it is
learned that the consumption of distilled
spirits per caplta has steadily increased in
France from 94-100 gallons to l 32-1OO. and
that it has varied in this country between
1 46-100 in 1888 and 1 24-1OO gallons in
1884 and 1885; that the United Kingdom
consumes a little more than gallon per
capita. and that the consumption in Ger
many has decreased from 32-10O in 1881
to 14-100 in 1885. France during the
same period increased her wine consump-
ton from 1S1z to nearly 81 gallons. while
this country and the United Kingdom, be-
ginning with less than half gallon per
head. show a slight falling off. In the
matter of the consumption during this pc
riod. the United States increased her aver
age from a little less than 10 to little more
than II gallons. The United Kingdom
held her own at about SO gallons, and Ger
many did the same at about % gallons.